Georges River Council is helping to 'green up' Sydney as part of the NSW Government's Five Million Trees for Greater Sydney Project.
The council finished planting trees in the Beverly Hills Canopy Corridor last month, bringing the total number of new trees planted by Council as part of this project to 505.
Georges River Council mayor Kevin Greene said that the planting is a significant step forward to achieving Council's goal of 40 per cent tree canopy coverage in the Georges River area by 2038.
"This important boost to the local tree canopy was made possible thanks to funding from the NSW State Government, and I am proud that Council is able to match funding for this initiative with an additional $215,000 in financial support," Councillor Greene said.
"Target areas with less than 15 per cent canopy coverage were identified for the project, including Kogarah, Kogarah Bay, Sans Souci, Hurstville and Beverly Hills.
"The new trees will not only help to beautify and cool our suburbs, but will also have significant environmental benefits for the area. They'll improve air quality, alleviate surface run-off during rain and mitigate the effects of habitat fragmentation brought on by urban development.
"As the trees mature, they will provide a habitat for native birds such as the locally threatened Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater, Powerful Owl and Little Lorikeet," he said.
The council has planted 505 trees throughout the streets and parks of Beverly Hills, Narwee, Penshurst, Kogarah Bay and Beverley Park. All trees are locally sourced and native to the area, including species of the remnant Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest and Coastal Sandstone Foreshores Forest vegetation communities.
100 locally native trees, shrubs and grasses were also provided to interested schools and the council's pre-schools within the local area and surrounding collaboration area. Schools were provided with a soft copy planting guide and Council's Backyard Biodiversity Guide to promote the greening of their school grounds.
32 projects across 20 Councils were awarded funding totaling $5,378,407 as part of the NSW State Government's Five Million Trees for Greater Sydney Grant.
